Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs an important meeting of the National Action Plan Apex Committee.
The meeting, which is being held to review the implementation of the National Action Plan 2021, is expected to set new objectives and strategies for the country’s security and law enforcement in the coming year, Express News reported.
The committee comprises key federal ministers, chief ministers of the four provinces, principal secretaries as well as the chief minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Additionally, the meeting is attended by Army Chief General Asim Munir, heads of intelligence agencies and Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
According to sources, the committee will evaluate the progress of the implementation of the National Action Plan and determine new objectives to address national security and public order concerns.
The meeting aims to establish strategies to address security challenges as the new year begins.
The National Action Plan, initially conceived to combat terrorism and extremism, remains a crucial framework for the government to address these ongoing issues.
The Prime Minister’s leadership in the meeting underlines the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the country through coordinated action at both the federal and provincial levels.
Earlier, the National Action Plan Apex Committee approved “Operation Azm-e-Istehkam” to eliminate terrorism and extremism across the country.
The meeting, held in Islamabad, was attended by key members of the federal cabinet, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Law and the Minister of Information.
Chief ministers of all provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, service chiefs, provincial chief secretaries and other senior civil, military and law enforcement officials were also in attendance.
The meeting highlighted the need for a new and dynamic counterterrorism strategy based on national consensus and broad systemic coordination. Prime Minister Shehbaz approved revival of national anti-terror campaign by launching Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, symbolizing national resolve with consensus of all stakeholders including provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir .
What is Operation Azm-e-Istehkam?
Operation Azm-e-Istehkam aims to eradicate extremism and terrorism decisively and completely. It will coordinate and align efforts on multiple fronts to address threats, while intensifying efforts to curb terrorist activities through regional cooperation within the political and diplomatic spheres.
The operation will reinforce the renewed and vigorous efforts of the armed forces with the full support of all law enforcement agencies. Effective legislation will be enacted to close legal loopholes that hinder the prosecution of terrorism-related cases, ensuring exemplary punishments for offenders.
This campaign will be complemented by socio-economic measures aimed at addressing the genuine concerns of the population and creating an environment that discourages extremist tendencies.
The forum reiterated that the fight against extremism and terrorism is Pakistan’s own battle, crucial for the survival and well-being of the nation. It was decided that no one would be allowed to challenge the authority of the State without repercussions.
The forum also reviewed measures to ensure foolproof security for Chinese citizens in Pakistan. Following the Prime Minister’s approval, new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were issued to improve the security framework for Chinese citizens in the country.
